Peach tree - named &#39;white river&#39; cultivar

ABSTRACT

Description and specifications of a new and distinct peach variety which originated from seed produced by a hand pollinated cross of ‘Loring (non-patented) and NJ-257 (non-patented) is provided. This new peach variety can be distinguished by its features of late mid-season ripening, high yields of high-quality, attractive, freestone, white-flesh fruits, and good plant vigor along with good resistance to bacterial spot disease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The new and distinct variety of peach originated from a handpollinated cross of Loring (non-patented)×NJ 257 (non-patented) made in1982 by Dr. Fred Hough, Emeritus Professor at Rutgers University, NewBrunswick, N.J. Dr. Hough donated the seeds from this cross to theUniversity of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station in Fall, 1982.The female parent plant used in this hybridization (Loring) is acommercial peach variety available in commerce and the male parent (NJ257) had not been publicly released and is unavailable in commerce. Boththe parents and the instant variety are the genus and species Prunuspersica.

[0002] The seeds resulting from this controlled hybridization weregerminated in a greenhouse in the late winter/spring of 1983 and plantedin a field on the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station nearClarksville, Ark. The seedlings fruited during the summer of 1986 andone, designated Arkansas 376, was selected for its white flesh, latemid-season ripening, large fruits, attractive fruit appearance, goodfruit quality, and resistance to bacterial spot. During 1986, theoriginal plant selection was propagated asexually, at the above notedlocation, by budding onto standard peach rootstock variety ‘Lovell’(non-patented) and a test plot of two plants was established.Subsequently, larger test plantings have been established with asexuallymultiplied plants at two additional locations in Arkansas (Clarksvilleand Hope, Ark.)

[0003] The new variety has been asexually multiplied several times since1986 at this location by budding onto ‘Lovell’ peach rootstock and noincompatibility with peach rootstocks has occurred following budding.During all asexual multiplication, the characteristics of the originalplant have been maintained and no aberrant phenotypes have appeared.

[0004] Plants of the new variety are vigorous and productive, and treesare standard in size, well branched and symmetrical with an upright tosemi-spreading growth habit, comparable to other peach trees (Prunuspersica). Trees express a high level of resistance to both foliar andfruit infection of bacterial spot [Xanthomonas campestris pv. pruni(Smith) Dye]. The new variety consistently is more resistant tobacterial spot than are the standard white peach varieties ‘CarolinaBelle’ (not patented) and ‘Stark® Summer Pearl™’ (not patented). The newvariety blooms in the spring 3 days later than ‘Carolina Belle’ and 2days later than ‘Stark® Summer Pearl™’. No winter cold injury has beenobserved on wood or buds of the new variety in Arkansas tests whereminimum temperatures have reached −23° C. Chilling requirement to breakdormancy is estimated to be 750 hours below 7° C.

[0005] Fruit of the new variety ripens mid-late to late season,averaging 8 days after ‘Carolina Belle’ and 8 days before ‘Stark® SummerPearl™’ reference white peach varieties. Average ripening date is July20 in west-central Arkansas (Clarksville). Fruit of the new varietyrarely has split pits, a serious fruit disorder of some peach varieties.Fruit yields have been very good and have averaged higher than thecomparison peach varieties ‘Carolina Belle’, ‘Redhaven’ (not patented),and ‘Cresthaven’ (not patented) in test comparisons.

[0006] The fruit is round in shape, without a prominent tip but anoccasional slight bulge at the suture. Fruits are attractive with anaverage 68% bright red blush, and 32% white or cream skin backgroundcolor. In some years the red blush was up to 80% of the fruit skinsurface especially when fruits are exposed to more sunlight than thosefruits growing in the shaded canopy. Fruit finish is good with noblemishes. The fruit skin has average pubescence like other peaches. Theflesh of the fruit is white in color and has some red pigment in theflesh, mostly around the stone or pit. Flesh is melting in texture butis firm and retains firmness until full maturity. The fruit is afreestone, in that the flesh does not adhere to the pit. Fruit size islarge averaging 246 g.

[0007] The fresh fruit rates very good in flavor, and was rated highlyin evaluations. Fruits average 14.5% soluble solids. The flavor is sweetand mildly subacid, with a distinct white peach aroma.

[0008] The distinctive features of the new variety are its latemid-season ripening, high yields of high-quality, attractive, freestone,white-flesh fruits, and good plant vigor along with good resistance tobacterial spot disease.

[0009] The new variety has been named the ‘WHITE RIVER’ cultivar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0010] The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the fruit(FIGS. 1 and 2) and leaf (FIG. 3) of the new variety in color as nearlytrue as it is reasonably possible to make in a color illustration ofthis character.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

[0011] The following is a detailed description of the botanical andpomological characteristics of the subject peach. Color data arepresented in Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart designations andare supplemented with readings from a Minolta Chroma Meter CR-200,version 3.0, which measures absolute chromaticity in tristimulus valuesL, a, and b. Calibration was performed using a standard white platesupplied by the manufacturer.

[0012] Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics aregiven, it is to be understood that such characteristics areapproximations of averages set forth as accurately as practical.

[0013] The descriptions reported herein are from specimens grown atClarksville, Ark. (except as noted) and are from trees grown in trickle(drip) irrigated orchards growing on a Linker fine sandy loam soil. Thedata were collected from eight-year old trees of the instant varietyexcept yield data that were taken on five-year-old trees (except asnoted) in a replicated test planting.

[0014] Plant:

[0015]Size.—Mature trees (5 years of age and older) average 3.2 m to 3.5m in height and 4.7 to 5.8 m in spread or width, and a semi-uprightgrowth habit, as grown on ‘Lovell’ rootstock using an open-centertraining system commonly used on peaches. Tree size is comparable tothat of the ‘Carolina Belle’ and ‘Stark® ‘Summer Pearl™’ varieties.

[0016]Growth.—Vigorous, symmetrical form, good canopy development. Vigorcomparable to that of the ‘Carolina Belle’ and ‘Stark® Summer Pearl™’varieties.

[0017]Productivity.—Very productive and consistent from year to year.Yield measured 49.5 kg/tree on five-year old trees and exceeding that of‘Carolina Belle’ with 33.9 kg/tree in a test planting of identical ageand growing conditions. In a six-year-old planting at Hope, Ark., ‘WhiteRiver’ yielded 92.1 kg/tree, exceeding that of ‘Cresthaven’ with yieldof 58.0 kg/tree and ‘Redhaven’ of 31.7 kg/tree.

[0018]Cold hardiness.—Wood and dormant buds hardy to −23° C.

[0019]Disease resistance.—Leaves and fruit near fully resistant tobacterial spot under growing conditions where bacterial spot infectionis often very severe on susceptible genotypes. No bactericides were usedin the development or evaluation of the instant cultivar. Evidence ofbacterial spot infection was less than that of ‘Carolina Belle’ in allyears of evaluation. A commercial fungicide program was utilized inorchards used in the development and evaluation of the instant variety,thus no resistance to brown rot or scab, the other common diseases atClarksville, Ark., was determined.

[0020]Insect resistance.—Insecticides were applied to orchards used inthe development of the instant variety to control the common insects atthe location including oriental fruit moth, plum curculio, stinkbug,tarnished plant bug, lesser peach tree borer, and greater peach treeborer. Therefore no insect resistance was determined in the testing ofthe instant variety.

[0021] Foliage:

[0022]Shoots.—Glabrous. Mature shoot length 67.6 cm; diameter base 0.63cm, midpoint 0.41 cm, terminal 0.24 cm. Mature shoot color: abaxial —Yellow-Green Group (144C); adaxial — Greyed-Orange Group (176A).

[0023]Leaves.—Simple, alternate, glabrous, lanceolate, petiolate,deciduous. Venation pinnate; base acute; terminal or apex acuminate;margin serrated. Mature leaf size: length 18.1 cm; width midpoint 4.5cm. Leaf serrations; 5.2/cm. Mature leaf color: abaxial-Yellow-GreenGroup (147B), L=51.65, a=−9.50, b=15.21; adaxial — Yellow-Green Group(147A), L=47.75, a=−7.35, b=10.90; and anthocyanin not present onabaxial or adaxial side of mature leaves on midrib or other location.Young leaf color: abaxial-Yellow-Green Group (146C), L=54.86, a=−16.62,b=30.18; adaxial — Yellow Green Group (144a), L=48.12; a=−19.10,b=30.75; anthocyanin not present on abaxial or adaxial side of youngleaves on midrib or other location.

[0024]Petiole length.—mature leaf: 0.79 cm. Leaf glands: reniform, 2 perleaf usually, located on basal portion of leaf blade near juncture withpetiole. Leaf glands are 0.87 cm in width and 0.80 cm in length andcolor of glands is Greyed-Orange Group (176B).

[0025]Buds.—Flower buds ovoid in shape; size at the termination of thegrowing season 4 mm long and 3 mm wide. Number of leaf buds per 15 cm:7, evenly distributed along the shoot. Number of flower buds per 0-15 cmfrom terminal: 5. Number of flower buds 15-30 cm from terminal: 9.Number of flower buds 30-45 cm from terminal: 8. Mature shoot internodelength: base 1.67 cm, midpoint 2.05 cm, terminal 1.34 cm.

[0026] Bark (of mature trunk of tree):

[0027]Color.—Grey Green Group (197D).

[0028] Flowers: Bloom occurs prior to vegetative bud break; solitary tooccasional double individual flowers at a single node; perfect;self-fertile.

[0029]Date of bloom.—First, Julian 76 (March 16); Full, Julian 82 (March22).

[0030]Size.—Diameter fully open 2.90 cm.

[0031]Type.—Showy.

[0032]Color.—Red Purple Group (65D), L=76.59, a=18.62, b=0.53.

[0033]Petals per flower.—5.

[0034]Length of pistil.—0.88 cm.

[0035]Stamens.—average 44/flower with pollen present, fertile andabundant.

[0036] Fruit:

[0037]Size.—Large, avg. 246.3 g; diameter stem end 7.43 cm, equator 7.78cm, blossom end 7.29 cm; length base to apex 7.64 cm.

[0038]Shape.—Round, symmetrical, and occasionally some fruits slightlyovoid. Fruits are without pronounced tip but occasional slight suturebulge.

[0039]Skin.—Pubescent (fuzzy) , attractive; ground color Yellow-OrangeGroup (20D), L=65.72, a=20.93, b=20.30, with red blush (Red Group 53B),L=46.43, a=27.97, b=14.48 over 68% of surface on average.

[0040]Flesh.—Yellow-White Group (158B), L=73.79, a=−0.66, b=14.15;freestone; melting texture; good firmness. Firmness when measured by afruit pressure tester (using a McCormick model FT327 fruit pressuretester, 11 mm diameter probe, McCormick Fruit Tree Co., Yakima, Wash.)on unpeeled fruit had average firmness value of 3.6 kg. Good eatingquality; flavor sweet, subacid, with pronounced white peach flavor andaroma.

[0041]Pedicel length.—0.70 cm.

[0042]Ripe date.—July 20 (Julian 202) in west-central Arkansas. Ripeningof individual fruit is uniform.

[0043]Tendency of pit to split.—No split pits most years.

[0044]Soluble solids.—14.5%.

[0045]Fruit juice pH.—3.7.

[0046] Pit/Stone:

[0047]Size.—Length 4.21 cm; diameter (midpoint) 2.75 cm.

[0048]Shape.—Slightly oblong with deep furrowing and pitting.

[0049]Color.—Greyed Orange Group (174A), L=39.31, a=9.13, b=12.97.

[0050] Kernel:

[0051]Size.—Length 1.94 cm; width 12.3 cm; diameter varies with drynessof the kernel but is up to 1.3 cm.

[0052]Shape.—elliptical with a straight or slightly curved apiculateapex.

[0053]Color.—Greyed Orange Group (165B); L=54.98; a=15.15; b=30.78.

[0054] Uses: Fresh consumption, not evaluated for drying or other uses.

[0055] The variety: The most distinctive features of the variety are itslate mid-season ripening, high yields of high-quality, attractive,freestone, white-flesh fruits, and good plant vigor along with goodresistance to bacterial spot disease.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of peach, substantially asillustrated and described, characterized by its late mid-seasonripening, high yields of high-quality, attractive, freestone,white-flesh fruits, and good plant vigor along with good resistance tobacterial spot disease.